Posted on Sep 15, 2023
Kansas City is waiting for the updated COVID vaccine, but new cases are already climbing
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An updated COVID-19 vaccine will be in Kansas City in the next few weeks. The shot combats newer variants more effectively and comes as case numbers creep up across the metro.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday, but people across the Kansas City metro are in limbo as they await shipments set to arrive in the next few weeks.
The new shot is designed to protect against a strain of the omicron variant known as XBB. Although the EG.5 variant recently overtook XBB as the dominant strain in the Kansas City region, the new shot is expected to still provide good protection against severe disease and hospitalization.
Pharmacies like CVS initially opened appointments to get a COVID-19 vaccine as early as Tuesday this week, but now, appointments are not available. Public health departments across the metro say they are expecting a shipment in the coming week or are awaiting further information.
The new vaccine's approval also means the bivalent boosters are no longer authorized.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday, but people across the Kansas City metro are in limbo as they await shipments set to arrive in the next few weeks.
The new shot is designed to protect against a strain of the omicron variant known as XBB. Although the EG.5 variant recently overtook XBB as the dominant strain in the Kansas City region, the new shot is expected to still provide good protection against severe disease and hospitalization.
Pharmacies like CVS initially opened appointments to get a COVID-19 vaccine as early as Tuesday this week, but now, appointments are not available. Public health departments across the metro say they are expecting a shipment in the coming week or are awaiting further information.
The new vaccine's approval also means the bivalent boosters are no longer authorized.
Kansas City is waiting for the updated COVID vaccine, but new cases are already climbing
Posted from kcur.org
Kansas City
Medical
Health
Pharmaceuticals
Posted 8 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Hawkinson said the continued persistence of the virus might be part of the reason the wording is shifting from calling new shots “boosters” to “updated vaccines.”
“(COVID-19) is going to be around for a while, so just like the influenza vaccine, they're calling this the 2023-24 formulation, or updated vaccine,” Hawkinson said. “Luckily, right now, with the current, more predominant variants in the United States, we know that the vaccine continues to provide good protection.”
If you are feeling sick, doctors continue to suggest taking a COVID test every 1-2 days whether you have COVID-19 or not. By entering your zip code at testinglocator.cdc.gov, you can find several sites across Kansas City that offer free testing.
At-home tests, which are similarly effective at detecting currently active variants as previous ones, are available at most pharmacies and usually cost around $24 for a set of two."
..."Hawkinson said the continued persistence of the virus might be part of the reason the wording is shifting from calling new shots “boosters” to “updated vaccines.”
“(COVID-19) is going to be around for a while, so just like the influenza vaccine, they're calling this the 2023-24 formulation, or updated vaccine,” Hawkinson said. “Luckily, right now, with the current, more predominant variants in the United States, we know that the vaccine continues to provide good protection.”
If you are feeling sick, doctors continue to suggest taking a COVID test every 1-2 days whether you have COVID-19 or not. By entering your zip code at testinglocator.cdc.gov, you can find several sites across Kansas City that offer free testing.
At-home tests, which are similarly effective at detecting currently active variants as previous ones, are available at most pharmacies and usually cost around $24 for a set of two."
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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